Industrial Advisory Board

The CDT Industrial Advisory Board advises on the educational and training content of the CDT programme from an industry standpoint. It is the aim of the CDT that students emerge from the programme with a highly developed translational experience with industry.

Ursula Gebhardt - Consultant

Ursula Gebhardt is a Consultant for Business Development in Medical Technology working independently with start-up companies, developing long term strategies, product portfolios and clinical strategies, as well as tactical methods to introduce their products in international markets. Successful global leader of innovative new business opportunities with extensive world wide experience in taking products from conception to market. She holds a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering and PhD in Human Biology/Biomedical Engineering in Germany. She spent seven years as a research engineer in the cardiology department of the University Hospital Aachen. She has over 30 years experience in the medical device industry in leading positions for research, development and product planning as well as directing clinical studies and marketing strategies.

Roy Johnson – Executive Chairman, Founder Micrima

Roy Johnson is Executive Chairman and founder of Micrima, and is involved with a portfolio of businesses, spanning medical imaging, diagnostics, devices and analytical instrumentation.

Mr Johnson has over 25 years’ experience in the medical device and diagnostics sector, operating at board level in both the UK and the USA.

He is particularly conversant with bringing complex technology to market, developing worldwide distribution networks, and negotiating and managing strategic relationships with some of the industry’s leading players.

Dr. Les Russell, CEO, OrganOx

Les has been the CEO of OrganOx since the company was formed in April 2008. He holds first class honours and PhD degrees in Chemistry from the University of London and has more than 25 years experience in the medical devices industry.

Prior to joining OrganOx, Les was Managing Director of Chromogenex plc, an AIM listed company developing and manufacturing light devices for non-ablative surgical and cosmetic use. In his 2 years as Managing Director, sales were increased from £2.4m to £4.5m and a loss of £150K reversed into a profit of £376K.

Until 2000, Les was Director of Marketing and Business Strategy for the Biotech Division of Baxter Export Corporation with responsibility for a product portfolio of $60m spanning medical devices and biopharmaceuticals.

Earlier in his career, he worked with Ilford Limited, Ciba-Corning Diagnostics and Cambridge Life Sciences plc. At Cambridge Life Sciences he had the role of Business Development Director with board responsibility for R&D and business development activities where he was instrumental in the sale of the company to Medirace (Medeva) and then to Byk-Gulden and also in the acquisition of Walker Laboratories.